Victor EzejaHuman rights group, Amnesty International, has called for immediate release of Comrade Hassan Soweto and 17 other activists arrested at the Lekki Toll Gate on Sunday by Nigeria Police operatives while holding a memorial for victims of #EndSARS protests.
The protesters had gathered for the 4th anniversary to remember those who lost their lives during the #EndSARS protests against police brutality in October 2020.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe protesters reportedly, gathered at the toll gate on Sunday morning bearing several banners and placards, demanding the full implementation of the reports submitted by judicial panels of inquiry set up after the 2020 #EndSARS protests.
Police operatives were allegedly said to have tear-gassed protesters and arrested a handful of them.
In a statement, Amnesty International said: “Amnesty International calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Comrade Hassan Soweto and 17 activists arrested at the Lekki Toll Gate today (Sunday), while holding a memorial for victims of #EndSARS protests. During the arrest, they were also subjected to horrific atrocities.”
The human rights group condemned what it called “violent attack” on people who gathered at the Lekki Toll Gate to honour peaceful protesters killed during the #EndSARS protests against police brutality in October 2020.
It added that the “The reckless” use of tear gas and arrests of peaceful protesters by Nigeria police operatives are unacceptable.
In another tweet, Amnesty International charged President Bola Tinubu’s government to stop using security personnel to deprive Nigerians of the right to peaceful protest and pay attention to the real issues that triggered the protests.
Prime Business Africa recalls that On 20th October 2020, scores of protesters were killed at the Lekki Tollgate allegedly by soldiers. Protesters, mostly Nigerian youths had engaged in nationwide demonstrations calling for an end to police brutality and scrapping of the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS), the police unit notorious for extrajudicial killings.
Soldiers were deployed to the Lekki Tollgate to crackdown on protesters who remained resolute in their demand for end to police brutality.
Since the incident, activists have held annual memorials in honour of those who lost their lives and others injured at the tollgate due to shootings that occurred under the cover of darkness.
Commenting on it, human rights activists and lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, said the protesters were peaceful yet were brutalised and detained in State CID Panti by the police.
In a video shared on X by Effiong, some protesters were seen accusing the police of brutalising them during the #EndSARS memorial procession on Sunday.
“We are protesters who wanted to mark the anniversary of #EndSARS but were apprehended by a group of policemen under the leadership of the commissioner of police,” one of the protesters said.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
